Engine starting mechanism



p 1941- 1 c. R. WASEIGE 2,255,575

ENGINE ST ARTING MECHANISM v Original Filed June 29, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

C/mr/es Rqymono/ n dseye Sept. 9, ,1941. c. R. WASEIGE. ENGINE STARTING MECHANISM Original Filed June 29, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 III/VII III/II/II/I/ I1 A m I I ummyll/llll W INVENTOR.

10/0/70! Wasee C'fiar/es Ra wail Patented Sept. 9, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE ENGINE STARTING MECHANISM Charles Raymond Waseige,

Rueil-Malmalson,

France, assignor to Socit Air Equipment, Billancourt, Seine, France, a company of France Original application June 29, 1935, Serial No. 29,162. Divided and this application February 9, 1939, Serial 'No. 255,526. in France July 24,

3 Claims. (01. 123-179) to the engine to be started is automatically controlled so as to efiect the coupling at the moment desired through the intermediary of a quick release mechanism actuated either by a centrifugal regulator or by a progressive advance mechanism which operates as a function of the number of turns effected by the flywheel or the starting motor.

Another object is to provide automatic ignition interrupting means or mechanism controlling automatically the throttle of the starting motor in order that, after the starting of the engine, the starting motor may be automatically brought to idling speed? In the case envisaged the starting motor continues to rotate slowly with just suflicient energy tov overcome the cylinder compression, and is then stopped automatically and completely when the engine has efiectively started and when it is determined that it will be no longer necessary to re-energlze the flywheel.

Another object is to provide means facilitating turning by hand of the engine en n m mb r. in a sense inverse to that communicated to it by the starting motor.

In one embodiment for the realization of this end, utilization is made of a three-position crank for the rotation of the starting motor, the crank permitting the rotation thereof in either direction.

For the purpose of a clearer understanding of the subject matter of the present invention, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation'of the starting mechanism;

Figure 2 shows an automatic control for the clutch that is adapted to connect the starting motor to the engine to be started when the turns.

Figure 3 is a change speed mechanism between the starting motor and the flywheel.

Figure 4 is a plan view in large scale of a device for the starting of the starting motor. it indicates, in Fig. l, the crankshaft engine to be started; 2, the inertia element of the of the 55 in the direction opposite to the a w f2 and per.-

starter; 3, the reduction gear train; and l, a screw pinion carried by a screw 5 that is freely mounted on an axis of the gear train, but drivably connectable to said axis by engagement of dog clutch 6. Such engagement is under the control of a link-rod 8 and a shifter yoke straddling the neck I of the slidable (driving) element of the dog clutch.

- The flywheel accelerating engine 9 (the starting motor) is shown as provided with a starting crank it and is carried directly by the housing iii oi the starter, said housing being in turn carried on the main engine housing or crank-case l I. Upon acceleration to a predetermined speed, a gear train driven governor ll will bring about actuation of link-rod 8, the control therebetween being in the form of a bell-crank 15 providing a sudden, snap-action shift of clutch 'l, 6 as soon as a rod it assumes a predetermined position to which it is moved by the governor, against the yielding opposition of a spring l8. This rod 86 also operates a second rapid release bell-crank l9 engageable with a shoulder 20 of a rod J3 to produce a rapid disengagement of a, clutch l2 drivably connecting engine 9 to the gear train 3; the spacing of the parts being such that this disengagement of clutch l2 occurs simultaneously with, or slightly after, engagement of clutch I, 6. Rod l3 carries a second shoulder l3a which cooperates with a bell-crank 2i and connections Zia and Zlb leading to the throttle oi engine 9, for the purpose of automatically shitting saidthrottle to idling position simultaneously with the disengagement of the clutch it by the means previously described; the connection to the throttle being such that the manual'operation thereof by former has effected a predetermined number of the means shown at 24 remains effective whenever desired, and independently of the rod 2m. In addition to this automatic shifting of the throttle to idling position there is provided means automatically shifting the throttle to the fully closed position, said means being shown as including the linkage 23 acting upon the throttle rod 24 to close the throttle automatically in response to movement of the screw pinion l in the direction of the arrow ,f, such movement occurring automatically when the main engine has been effectively started.

If the engine does not start, the rod i6 returns to its original position under the action of the spring l8 according as the element which effects rotation of the regulator l1 slows down. Through the efiect of this return movement of the rod l6 s the device l5 swings suddenly at a given moment mits the spring of the pull member 8 to interrupt the connection between the nut I and the screw 5. The mechanism now lends itself to a new starting attempt, but as the screw pinion 4 has remained in gear with the en ine to be started;

y failure of the gearing element to .1

sufficient freedom might cause a breaking of-gear teeth. As a further, although not absolutely rigid and unyielding safeguard against such' other lever 24b drawn toward lever 240 by a spring 240. The arrangement is such that when the rod 29 is in the position for which the pinion 4 is disengaged, the extremity of the lever 24b 1 is not situated on the trajectory of a shoulder 24d of the I 3, but for the position that the rod 22 occupies when the pinion 4 is engaged, the said extremity-of the lever 24b comes into position on thistraiectory between the positions I of the shoulder 24d correspondingto the engagement and to the disengagement of the coupling l2. Furthermore, the trajectory of the extremity of the lever 24bv does not encounter the shoulder 24d for the position of disengagement, 1 -of the rod II. It results therefore, as in the position indicated in Fig. 1, that the lever 24bopposes itself to the engagement of the coupling 1 2, but before this occurs the rod I3 is allowed to come back to its position corresponding to disengagement against the effort-of the spring 24c and as a result'of the push of the shoulder 24:1 in the course of the disengagement of the coupling l2.

For the purpose of absolutely disengaging the screw pinionJ recourse'may be had to a threecarries on its opposite faces the teeth 1 and 3| cooperating ,respectively with two other teeth 32-33. fixed to or forming part of the 1 motor shaft, the hand crank bein'g normally jmaintained in its medium neutral position by the opposedsprings 94-35.v Allthat is neces- For the purpose of permitting the rotation 1 at will and-by-hand of the engine to be started .in utilizing the hand crank I4, there is here provided a link I 5d, articulated on a lever I 5b f angularly fixed with respect to leversii'c and 1 l5d of thequick release device I! which controls the clutching of the engine to be started is to turn the engine in its non-normal sense. a

engaged with the motor to be jdisplace a half screw 21 guided in such a way that it cannot turn. Two trunnions carried by this screw 21 are engaged by a fork 28 provided at the extremity of one arm of a two-armed lever of which the other arm is articulated on the rod It. It will be understood that at the end of a definite or determined number of turns the rod It comes into theposition for which take place automatically the operations hereinabove set forth for the control by the centrifugal regulator. 1 Y

The guide bar 36 of the screw 21 is carried at its extremity by two levers 81 that are arranged to pivot about the same axis in order to permit the disengagement of the screw 21 from the threaded shaft 28 and a spring 38 is provided which continually urges the screw 2'! in the sense contrary to the displacement which results from the action of the motor 9 thereon. It is obvious that when the connection between the screw 21 and the threaded shaft 26 is interrupted by the raising of the screw, the latter is returned along the bar 36 by thespring 98 and comes back into itsinitial position bringing with it the rod l9 through the intermediary of the lever 29. The raising of the screw 21 is obtained in this embodiment through any desired mechanism as for instance through the "intermediary of a Bowden cable, but it is to be 1 position crank (Fig. 4) for the starting of the '1 motor 9, one neutral position being provided and 1 two other positions permitting the motor to be i turned in opposite directions. The hand crank sary to disengage the pinion 4 and permit a new attempt of startingto the inertia flywheel. This clutch can be thus 1 controlled at will and by hand independently of the automatic control provided therefor.

Figure 2 shows another form of embodiment ofautomatic control of the rodv IS in function of the number of turns effected by .the starting motor 9or of the flywheel I. .In this embodi lment'the shaft of the starting motor 9 or the 1 transmission to the flywheel, motivates, through 1 the intermediary of a reduction gearing 29, here understood that the operation may be eflected by any other mechanism adapted to the conditions imposed Referring to Figure 3, there is provided an embodiment of an automatic change speed disposed between the starting motor and the flywheel. 'In this embodiment a planetary gear train is utilized of which one of the planetaries 49 is connected to'rotate with the flywheel 2 while the other planetary 4| may be immobilized or connected for rotation to the shaft 42 of the starting motor 9 through the intermediary, for example, of a jaw clutch of which one of the jaws is displaceable and splined to the tail of the planetary 4|. The movable jaw carries two opposite teeth 43 and 44 adapted to be brought respectively into engagement with two teeth 45 and 49, the one 45 flxed to the housing and the other 49 carried by a plate of the shaft 42. The

satellites 41 are always set in motion directly by the shaft 42 of the starting motor.

The engagement in one sense or in the other is controlled by a quick release device 48 that is actuated automatically by a cam 59 motivated by the mechanism which controls the rod it. In the embodiment represented this cam is carried by the rod It. It is obvious that when teeth 43 and 45 are in engagement, the shaft of the flywheel is rotated with a certain reduction by the shaft 42 whilst, when the teeth 44 and 48 are in engagement, a direct coupling between the shaft 42 and the flywheel 2 results. The first position corresponds to the getting under way of the motor 9 and of the flywheel 2. Then.

when the flywheel and the motor have acquired a certain predetermined speed. or effected a'number of turns chosen in advance, the cam I9 actuates the mechanism 49 which releases and brings into engagement the teeth 44 and 46 eflfecting illustrated as of the worm type, a threaded shaft 126, thatiis axially fixed and along which may.

thus the direct connection between the driving shaft and the driven shaft.

This application is a division of my application No. 29,162 filed June 29, 1935.

What I claim is:

1 A starting'mechanism for aircraft engines comprising starting power means. a flywheel, an

engine engaging member, means drivabiy connecting the flywheel to said engine engaging member, means including a clutch to drivably connect the starting power means to the flywheel, and automatic means for disengaging said clutch after the starting power means has operated through a predetermined number of revolutions, said automatic means comprising a member shiftable to clutch disengaging position, and means driven by the rotation of said power means for shifting said shiitable member.

2. A starting mechanism for aircraft engines comprising starting power means, a flywheel, an engine engaging member, means drivably connecting the flywheel to said engine engaging member, means including a clutch to drivably connect the starting power means to the flywheel,

automatic means for disengaging said clutch after the starting power means has operated througha predetermined number of revolutions, said last named means including a screw element movable along a threaded shaft, means for guiding said screw element in such a way as to prevent rotation thereof, and means for driving said threaded shaft in synchronism with said flywheel.

3. A starting mechanism.for aircraft engines, as in claim 1, wherein the starting power means includes an internal combustion engine, and further comprising means acting upon the throttle of said starting engine to slow down and subsequently stop said starting engine at predetermined stages in the operation of the starting mechanism.

CHARLES RAYMOND WASEIGE. 

